Ester Wax Toner for High-Speed Image Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing toners fail to prevent contamination of image forming apparatuses during high-speed image formation, leading to decreased image quality and apparatus sensitivity due to excessive heat and volatile wax components.
Innovation Solution
A toner formulation incorporating an ester wax with controlled volatile components, where the total amount of hydrocarbons detected by GC/MS analysis after heating at 200°C for 10 minutes is limited to specific ppm ranges, ensuring reduced contamination and stable image quality over time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If wax is added to improve fixing properties and reduce temperature requirements, then energy saving is improved, but contamination of image forming apparatuses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the wax from conventional hydrocarbon-based waxes to ester waxes with specific molecular structures. This parameter change maintains the low-temperature fixing capability while fundamentally reducing the contamination problem by altering the chemical properties of the wax components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of wax volatility into a benefit by selecting ester waxes that have controlled volatile components. The ester wax structure allows the wax to perform its function of reducing fixing temperature while the controlled volatility prevents excessive contamination, turning a potentially harmful property into a controlled and beneficial characteristic.
2Productivity
If high-speed image formation is implemented to increase productivity, then output speed is improved, but contamination inside apparatus increases due to excessive heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal properties parameters of the wax by selecting ester waxes with specific melting points and volatility characteristics. This allows the system to handle high-speed image formation with excessive heat while preventing the heat from causing significant contamination, as the ester wax structure is more stable under high-temperature conditions.
3Reliability
If conventional waxes are used to achieve good fixing properties, then fixability is improved, but gloss uniformity deteriorates over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential issue of wax degradation over time into a benefit by using ester waxes with controlled volatility. The ester wax structure provides stability that prevents degradation and gloss non-uniformity, while still maintaining good fixing properties, thus turning a long-term stability problem into a reliable solution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The toner effectively inhibits inside contamination of image forming apparatuses, maintaining high-quality image formation with uniform gloss and extending apparatus lifespan by reducing volatile wax components' deposition.
Implementation Method 1
components volatilized by heating the ester wax at 200°C for 10 minutes
Implementation Method 2
deposition of volatile wax components on heating roller and surrounding members
Implementation Method 3
pressure heating system with a heating roller
Implementation Method 4
excessive heat quantity is applied to the toner
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a toner showing an excellent fixing property even in high-speed image formation and inhibiting contamination of the inside of an apparatus and thereby being capable of stably forming high-quality images not having unevenness of gloss over a long period of time. In the toner including toner particles containing a binder resin, an ester wax, and a coloring agent, the ester wax is prescribed by, in GC/MS analysis of components volatilized by heating the wax at 200°C for 10 minutes, a relationship in the components having carbon atoms in specific ranges.